Cardinals decline option on Jake Westbrook

ASSOCIATEDPRESS

FS Midwest

ST. LOUIS -- The
St. Louis Cardinals declined their $9.5 million option for next season on pitcher
Jake Westbrook, who was not on their postseason roster after battling elbow and back injuries much of the year.

The 36-year-old Westbrook, who was 7-8 with a 4.63 ERA, gets a $1 million buyout.

The sinkerballer appeared in 21 games, all but two of them starts. He was barely used late in the year and got the start in the season finale as a nod to his contributions, working one scoreless inning.

Westbrook is 105-103 for his career. He was 36-32 with a 4.27 ERA in three-plus seasons with St. Louis.